Summer Drink Drive

A month-long national campaign to reduce drink and drug driving begins today across the region and it's hoped Twitter and Facebook will play a huge part in raising awareness to young drivers.

In Leicestershire the force will be giving Capital daily updates on drink and drug arrests and will also be tweeting and posting daily updates on alcohol-free options for drivers.

Superintendent Rachel Swann: "Police in Leicestershire are launching a summer Drink Drive campaign named ‘Sober and Motoring’ or ‘SAM’, we want this to be a summer where people take responsibilty and plan how they get home by having a designated driver. If you are going out in the city centre, we are working with a number of pubs and bars, who will offer free soft drinks all night to the driver. All you have to do is show your car keys."

But motorists in Nottinghamshire are being warned that enforcement of drink driving laws carries on for 365 days of the year.

Summer traditionally sees an increase in the number of people who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, with more people socialising in the warmer, lighter evenings.

Nottinghamshire's Head of Roads Policing, Chief Inspector Andy Charlton, said: "The launch of the national campaign is important because this time of year does habitually see a spike in the number of people who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, so it is right to take this opportunity to draw attention to a very serious issue."

"Our message is clear. Driving under the influence of drink or drugs is potentially lethal, and whatever the time of year our officers are stopping motorists we suspect may be drink-driving and arresting those who fail tests or refuse to take them."

Last year 17% of all deaths on UK roads were caused by drink driving.

The legal limits for drink driving in the UK are 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, or 107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine.